WHITBY -- Residents are raising a glass to a worthy cause as part of a celebrity bartending initiative that was launched in January to support the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

Oshawa resident Ian McCutcheon came up with the idea after signing on to be a Wishmaker for Hearts of Durham, a grassroots, volunteer organization committed to supporting charities. Hearts of Durham, based in Brooklin, selected Children's Wish as its charity of choice for 2011/2012.

As a local Wishmaker, Mr. McCutcheon strives to grant one wish to a child in Durham who is facing a life-threatening illness.

"I'm expected to raise $10,000 through different events so I chose the celebrity bartending event where we get local known people from the region to get behind the bar on a Tuesday night and all their tips go to Children's Wish," he says.

On Feb. 19, Whitby Councillor Joe Drumm faced off with Jeannot Lamarre, owner of Baton Rouge in Whitby, and raked in more than $900. That brings the total raised thus far from five events to nearly $6,000, working toward granting the wish of a five-year-old girl from Durham who recently underwent a liver transplant.

"It gets the people out and it gets different pubs and bars some business on a Tuesday night," says Mr. McCutcheon.

"We all just network and have some fun."

When asked to support the cause, Mr. Lamarre says he didn't hesitate.

"When I first opened the restaurant five and a half years ago, I had said that giving back to the community is not only something that was a privilege but it was a duty and a responsibility as a business owner," he says.

"The community helps make my dreams come true so the very least that I can do is give back and help support them."

Coun. Drumm, who used to tend bar while living in Ireland years ago, was also excited to contribute to Children's Wish.

"If ever there was a cause, that is the cause, no question about it," he says.

- March 12 - Ian McCutcheon from ServiceMaster of Durham, Ed Lam from A1 Automotive Connection, Hayley Buchanan from The Royal Oak and Michelle St. Germain from Co-operaters Insurance at the Lion and Dragon Pub, 109 Old Kingston Rd., Ajax.